Maybe not so routine!

As discussed in my previous post, routine is a great way to make sure that the tasks that are entrusted to you end up getting done. It is far less likely that you will forget about a project or get sidetracked with other assignments when you keep a list handy and stay focused on what needs to get done. However, there are some days in the working world, I have found, when routine is not what will get you through the day.

Sometimes, even when you have a full, well-thought-out plan, your routine can get shaken up. Maybe there’s a true emergency (such as the virus detection that my team was occupied with last week) or perhaps it’s just something unexpected that should get done soon (such as when I had to meet with certain members that were unable to attend an important SharePoint meeting, and explain a process to them—this process must be done by this week).

In any case, whereas learning that a routine and a set plan is a great way to be successful within the office, it is also very important—I have found—to make sure you are able to be flexible as well. This is another area where I have found that my previous experiences have greatly helped me to overcome unexpected bumps such as these.

For example, my experiences with school and having to change plans on the fly for one reason or another, making sure that all projects get done on time has really helped me with looking at and scheduling when is the best time to work on which projects. And, when/if something comes up unexpectedly, it is easy for me to move things around and know that everything will get done.

Not only school, but also my past jobs have really helped with my coordination as well. When I was a shift manager at Panera Bread, I was constantly running around, making sure that everything I had the power to control went smoothly. Even if there wasn’t “anything to do,” there was always something to do! Always something to stock, something to clean, something to reorganize, something to improve upon (which has also greatly assisted me in my current work environment!). But most of what Panera taught me is that when something unexpected happens, the best thing to do is keep your cool, think fast, and fix the problem as quickly as possible before you get further behind on your work. This is also a good mentality to keep in any office or work place.

So, I have discovered that when dealing with not-so-routine situations at work, I can draw on my past experiences and make sure that everything still gets done in a timely fashion. This is a skill that I can use in my professional career now and will continuously use until the day I retire. It’s a great aptitude to hold onto and use in any working situation and one that I would definitely say that my time within the Professional Writing and Editing program has helped me to achieve and fine-tune.

Settling into routine and organization

Now that I’ve been working at my internship for a solid month, I have to say that there is a certain routine that I’ve found myself in. I have had several meetings scheduled that are on a repeat basis—for instance, I meet with my mentor, Ryan Harvey, once every two weeks to discuss progress and I meet with Garrett Treager almost daily to collaborate and check-in with certain projects as well. I like to come into the office in the morning, and after I’ve checked my email and made sure that there is nothing that requires immediate attention, I like to go get a coffee from Starbucks. I also have a certain time that I like to check in on various projects, and a particular time I like to go to lunch. Sometimes, routine can help you get through the day and set up some structure in order to make sure certain tasks are taken care of.

After my morning coffee, I like to sit down and look at the pending projects that I have to do—maybe they don’t need to be finished for another month, but as long as I constantly remember that it’s something I have to do, and I think this helps me in actually getting the task done. This way, if I am being held up on some other project, I can remember something that eventually needs done and get started on that while I have time. By doing this, it not only makes sure I always have something to do, but it makes sure that everything gets done as well.

I have a To Do List of the things that I HAVE to get done (meaning things with sooner due dates and/or of more importance) and I have a To Do List of things that should EVENTUALLY get done (meaning side projects, such as the Inspirational Poster Project that is ongoing). This method also helps me to keep my projects and assignments up-to-date for school—I find that this is an easy transition and one that has tremendously helped me within the workplace.

By doing this daily, making a routine, and writing up a list of things I know I need to do, this has really facilitated my getting accustomed and settled into a working environment. I know that using this system will allow me to be a better worker, and it’s thanks to my experience with organizing for school that I can confidently use this tool and others in my success at the work place.